Maintenance on Dark Walnut & Red Oak Floors

Finish Is Important

• Most wood floors in homes today have a polyurethane or polyester hard-coat sealant to protect against moisture and damage from foot traffic. However, it is possible to find an older rustic home that has a natural wood floor with no sealant. You can tell the difference by touching the floor. A floor with a protective coating will have a glossy or semi-glossy appearance and feel smooth. When running your fingers over a wood floor with no sealant, you will be able to feel the grain and texture of the wood. Maintaining floors without sealer is different from maintaining floors that have been sealed.

Unfinished Wood Floors

• Chemical cleaners or acidic agents, such as vinegar, should not be used to clean an unfinished wood floor because the unfinished wood absorbs liquid. Instead, use a rag dampened only with water. Do not saturate the rag; the wood will absorb the excess water, which may cause it to swell. Abrasive cleaning materials, such as scrub brushes or pads, should be avoided since they will scratch the wood's surface. If at all possible, clean the floor only with a broom and dustpan or a vacuum cleaner.

Finished Wood Floors

• The manufacturer of the flooring material should provide a list of suggested cleaners, suitable for cleaning the wood floor without damaging it. You can also spot-clean sealed floors with a non-abrasive chemical floor cleaner. Use a soft rag or a mop and avoid abrasive scrubbing pads or brooms since it is possible to scratch the protective hard coat. Unlike with unfinished floors, using a bit more water is all right, if necessary, because the sealer prevents the cleaner from getting into the wood. As with unfinished wood floors, the best cleaning is done with a broom and dustpan or with a vacuum cleaner.

Refinishing Floors

• If you own your home long enough, you will need to refinish your floors. Floors without a protective sealer will require frequent sanding and polishing because foot traffic fills the wood’s pores with dirt and oil, eventually making them look dingy. Sanding the floor with a floor sander and then buffing it to a shine will help to restore the floor's original appearance. If your floors are sealed, foot traffic will eventually leave scuffs and take off the shine. The appearance of sealed floors can be improved by buffing the protected coating once a year. However, every five years or so, you must strip the old sealer off and apply new sealant.